Can anyone help?

[accs]

I am trying to find out which Squadron Patch HMM 163 used or identified itself with after they came back to the states and converted to 46's?

Specifically '69-'70.

I have looked at several patches and decals but am not for sure which is correct.

Obviously, ones with a 34 on it or dates would not be correct.

:D

[Jack S. Warner]

Brook:
I re-joined 163 in '69 after 561 was retired. We used the same patch at that time and flew F model H-46's.

I recently received a couple of squadron patches from the C.O. of HMM 163. It consists of a pair of "Evil Eyes" in the center , the name "Evil Eyes" on top and HMM 163 on the bottom banner.

Semper Fidelis,

Jack Warner

[accs]

Thanks Jack..... but, there are also two other patches that have been associated with 163 close to that time period.... Ridge Runners and Ridge Runners with evil eyes...... any ideas about either of those or not?

http://www.popasmoke.com/patches-300/hmm163-a.gif

or

http://www.popasmoke.com/px/patches/hmm163-a.jpg

or

http://www.hmm-163.com/USMCBDpics/Pages/Image38.html

:D :p ;)

[Joe Reed]

I, too, was in HMM-163 in '69 and early '70. The patch I remember was the "Ridge Runner" patch (the top link that Warner posted), and I have that one on my "new" flight jacket. Since then I ordered the black "Evil Eyes" patch that I may replace it with.
Hey Jack, were you with us when we "externalled" the cattle stuck in the mud up around Corona? What fun!
Semper Fi
Joe

[accs]

Thanks Joe,

I know Jack knows that I was also in 163 from October '69 to end of April '70.

I am putting together a 'New' G1 flight jacket and wish to have the appropriate patches.

FYI... I posted the links.... not Jack..

:D ;) :p

[accs]

I appreciate the assistance, but now I have an additional question concerning this clipping from a chronology

".....RELOCATE DURING SEPTEMBER 1968 TO SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, AND REASSIGNED TO MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 56, 3RD MARINE AIRCRAFT WING......"

if this is correct an no typo's...... does anyone know where I could find a MAG-56 patch?

Thanks ;)

[Joe Reed]

My bride bought one for me in Pensacola as my Christmas present! I used the "Ridge Runner" patch as correct for '69-'70, as you know I was there then. I now have the new black "evil eyes" patch that I may replace it with. Allyn Hinton sells them but I don't think they represent any specific time frame. Maybe he could tell you.
I think MAG-56 is incorrect though......shouldn't it be MAG-36?
Semper Fi
Joe

[hma1369]

HMM-163 was assigned to MAG-56 from Sept 68 to Jul 71 when it was reassigned to MAG-16. I've never seen a MAG-56 patch but I posted a scan of a b/w photocopy:
MAG-56 logo (http://www.popasmoke.com/notam2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3372&highlight=MAG56)

[Allyn Hinton]

I got a picture of the MAG-56 patch now. I'll put it in the stack to be done in the future. One question does the banner in the center say: FACTA NON VEREA? Unless someone can get me the right colors we can put it on red with gold wings, letters, and boarder.

[accs]

thanks Tom for the picture..... I have been looking on the net for several days and found nothing (MAG 56 is like a ghost unit in the records or on the net)..... have received a reply from a query email from Maj. T.D. Kornacki, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing who headed me to Marine Corps Aviation Museum at MCAS Miramar (no luck there) and I have a couple of other places to contact that may have the color scheme..... I am glad that you at least have the picture to start with.
:D :p ;)

[hma1369]

FACTA NON VERBA

[whalvorsen]

For those of you studying the finer points of Latin usage on official USMC memorabilia.....

facta, non verba = deeds, not words

[hma1369]

I sent a letter out today to the Naval Aviation History Branch in DC asking for info on the correct colors of the insignia. According to their web site I should get a reply in 4-8 wks. I'll keep everyone posted.

Naval Aviation History Branch (http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/nhcorg4.htm)

[accs]

Just got off the phone with a young man at HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION, Museum Branch, Marine Corps Curator Section and he is going to research this for us. He will get back to me either by phone the first of the week or via email. If he can he stated he will try to get us color picture and attach it to an email in jpg format.

:D :p ;)

[Joe Reed]

What ever became of your MAG-56 patch search, Brook?
Neither you or Jack responded to my queston about the "Cattle" externals. Before you got there? How 'bout the junk car external to prevent the erosion of the Santa Ana river into the back yards of homes during the floods of '69??
Semper Fi
Joe

[Jack S. Warner]

Joe:
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I remember the mission but I didn't fly in it.

I do remember evacuating "Everything" in the 69 floods. The ?Funniest? were the Chinchilas........Someone had a chinchila farm way back in the canyon. I was chosen to evac them. Hell, I didn't know they were skitso...... We picked them up in cages, flew to soccer staging field and started unloading them. The crew chief started screaming......."They are bald......they don't have any hair.........I guess when the furry little commy bas----s get excited they shed their hair. We had about 8 cages of bald chinchilas. Now that would have made a great coat for Jane Fonda.......

The cattle lift does bring back memories of HMM 361 on a community relations mission. A Marine had accidently shot a village water buffalo so we took the smooth talker out to pay the village. Everything was fine until my wingman, Lt. "The Lord" Seeley lifted off and got consertina wrapped around his landing gear. The consertina was also attached to the village mayor's sons pant leg. The Lord took off, trailing the little guy. We saw it in time and had him land without hurting the little guy. Could have been another SNAFU situation. In some ways it was funny but it could have had some nasty repurcussions if the little guy would have fallen from 300'

What great memories........There are not enough books out there to explain all these events......

Merry Christmas and Semper Fidelis Always.

Jack "The Screw" Warner

[accs]

I thought I did send you a PM about the cattle externals and the cars in the Santa Ana River..... I was at Pendleton at the time, I am almost sure of it...... I did not participate in those operations..... I very well may have been either still in Okinawa if it was in the spring, on leave in the mid-west or at Camp Pendleton assigned to a Bn. I did not get to the Squadron until late October.

About the patch, if I don't here back from the HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION, Museum Branch, Marine Corps Curator Section, tomorrow afternoon, I will call them back to find out what information they have dug up on the colors for the patch. One of the assistants to the Curator was working on it, but because of the snow storm they closed early last Friday, so if he was not side tracked he was probably able to start researching it until yesterday.

Can't speak for Jack. He will surely reply about the heavy floods because I am almost sure he would remember them if he was in the squadron at the time.

[Jack S. Warner]

I love modern technology. I just got about 2 hours of super 8 movies put onto VHS. About 15 minutes of it is the floods of '69. About an hour of RVN and some family stuff (Flying through the Grand Canyon etc. etc. etc.)

Will probably get them transferred to DVD. Maybe I can "Capture" a few frames to post, if not I'll bring them to Reno.

Semper Fidelis'
Jack

[Joe Reed]

Way to go guys! Looking forward to all!
Semper Fi
Joe:cool:

[accs]

Just got off the phone with James D'Angina at Marine Corps Curator Section, Aviation Curator Assistant and so far no luck on the colors.

However, he is still looking and has a couple of local leads in the area back on the East coast in the Museums vicinity. He is working on it for us.

I will keep everyone posted as to any further information.

[hma1369]

According to info I received from the Naval Aviation History Branch, HMM-561 never submitted a color pic of their insignia, only the b/w photocopy.

[Jack S. Warner]

I can provide a color picture of the HMM 561 Patch. I will have to rip it off my flight jacket and scan it but "I can do it">>>>>>>

The patch is of a Knight chess piece with olive branches and a lightning bolt on a background of white and black. White on top running from 2:00 to 8:00 and black on the bottom.

Let me know if you need the scan........

Semper Fi.........

Jack

[accs]

I am still in contact with HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION, Museum Branch, Marine Corps Curator Section, Aviation Curator Assistant and he is still actively trying alternate leads to assist us in our search. I have also contacted some brother Marines here on the West Coast that were around Santa Ana and Tustin '69 through '71/'72 to see if they can rustle up an answer. I have not given up yet. There has to be a patch somewhere and/or someone that is in the know.

[hma1369]

Oops. I meant MAG-56.

[Fred Pfeiffer]

Has anyone found the answer to the HMM-163 patch question?

I was stationed at MCAF Santa Ana with HMM-163 after I rotated back to CONUS in January 1969 and was with the squadron until the late summer of 1969, during the conversion from 34s to 46s, and would like to know the answer myself.

I currently have the "Ridge Runner" patch

http://www.popasmoke.com/px/patches/hmm163-a.jpg

in my collection but wonder if it is the correct one for that time period.

Also, the vendor with all the patches at the Reno reunion had the MAG-56 patch that looks like the attached file. Is that the correct color scheme?

Semper Fi,
Fred Pfeiffer

[accs]

http://www.popasmoke.com/px/patches/mag56.jpg

Did you mean this patch of MAG 56?.... because your link is to the Ridge Runners 163 patch.

[jim-uc62]

Joe Reed is right ... 163 was under MAG36 prior to that MAG!6